Rd2 [GB matches only]:

J O'Donoghue [GB][1] v N Khan [GB]

N Cavaday [GB][4] v E Thomas [GB]

G Stoop [GB][6] v A Poltoratskaya [Rus]

A Smith [GB] v J Bone [GB]

C Peterzan [GB][5] v E Webley-Smith [GB]

K Paterson [GB][2] v P Wong [Ned]


Natasha Khan is one of our most improved players this year, she's reached 4 10K semis and 1 quarter and has beaten Jade Curtis, Sarah Coles, Anna Smith and she came within a few points of beating Amanda Keen on grass. She reached a career high ranking of 601 at the end of August. She's played Jane twice already this year, losing 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 in the quarters of Frinton on grass and 7-5, 6-2 in the semis of Wrexham. If Jane is slightly below par, Natasha could spring a surprise upset here.

Elizabeth Thomas is ranked 947, her best result this year has been reaching the quarters of Ikley on grass, I doubt she'll trouble Naomi too much. They've played once before, Naomi won 6-4, 6-4 earlier this year.

Anastasia Poltoratskaya is ranked 657, about 100 places below Georgie, she's a clay court specialist. Her best results this year have been reaching 3 10k semis, all on clay. She's 18 and reached a high of 2005 in juniors. She's played Georgie once before, in Edinburgh earlier this year and won 6-4, 6-2. However, that was on clay, Georgie's least favourite surface. The Russian struggled for a period against unranked wildcard Nikki Prosser today, I'm confident that Georgie will progress through to the quarters.

Anna Smith and Julia Bone have been contempories in the juniors. Julia had the better junior career reaching a high of 160 while Anna's best ranking was 665. Anna started playing in the seniors a bit sooner, she's been concentrating almost entirely on the seniors from the start of 2005. She has the higher senior ranking - 637 while Julia is ranked 679. They've played twice before, Julia won 6-2, 6-2 in a junior tournament in Nottingham in 2004 and in 2005 Anna won 6-1, 7-5 in qualifying for a 25K in Bolton.

Claire Peterzan was on the verge of the top 400 in February this year but she's been in a bit of a slump apart from a couple of tournaments. In comparison, Emily's results in August suggest that she's returned revitalised from her injury woes and I have a feeling that she might cause an upset.

Pauline Wong is ranked 539. She's a clay-court specialist and has reached 2 futures finals and 1 semi in her native Holland this year. She dispatched wildcard Naomi Broady in straights in rd1. Could be a tricky one for Karen.

Full Round 2:

O'Donoghue def Khan 6-2 3-3 Ret

Suomalainen def Haberkorn 6-3 6-3

Cavaday def Thomas 6-3 6-1

Stoop def Poltoratskaya 7-5 7-5

Smith def Bone 6-1 6-4

Roma def Steiro 6-1 6-1

Peterzan def Webley-Smith 7-6(4) 6-2

Paterson def Wong 6-4 6-2

Piia Suomalainen (Fin) bt Jane O’Donoghue (Gbr) 7-6 (7-4) 6-3

Georgie Stoop (Gbr) bt Naomi Cavaday (Gbr) 5-7 6-2 6-4

Anna Smith (Gbr) bt Nadja Roma (Swe) 6-3 6-0

Karen Paterson (Gbr) bt Claire Peterzan (Gbr) 6-7 (8-10) 6-4 6-2

I'm amazed that Georgie beat Naomi Especially indoors where Naomi's big 1st serve is even more effective [play was forced indoors today due to persistent rain.]
Great win for her though, this win should see her a lot closer to her goal of reaching the top 400 by the end of the year. Georgie has gained 5 ranking points so far which will see her move up to a career best ranking of 480 from 523. If she reaches the final she'll move up to 457.

Like Greenleaf, I was rooting for Naomi to win this tournament but if she was going to lose I wanted it to be to Georgie.

It's a shame that Jane O'Donoghue couldn't secure a British winner of this tournament , Suomalainen is ranked about 200 places lower She's yet to drop a set here.

Fantastic win for Anna Smith, I hear she completely outpowered her opponent and before this match, Roma had dropped a grand total of 3 games here !!!! Makes the win look all the more impressive

Good win for Karen, she's physically stronger than Claire and that probably told after such a mammoth 1st set.


Looking ahead to the semis:

Anna and Karen have played 3 times before, all in 2006. Karen won 6-3, 6-4 indoors at the start of the year in rd2 of the Jersey 25K. Anna won in rd2 of the Bath 10K also indoors, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. Karen won 6-3, 6-4 in rd2 of Surbiton qualifying in June.
My prediction is Karen in 3 sets.

Georgie has played her opponent once before, in a 10K in Budapest on clay earlier this year and she won 6-1, 7-5 on her least favourite surface which bodes extremely well. Hopefully a repeat happens to ensure an all-British final.

Great going by Anna S; second 10K final in August/September has to say good things. And won the national U18s (vs Anna F)